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Brown Bag Lunch features overview of Overdrive

Provides access to e-books, audio books, movies, magazines

Librarian Erica Kallsen talks about Overdrive, which can be used to access e-books, audio books, movies and magazines, during Sterling Public Library's Brown Bag Lunch program Thursday. (Callie Jones / Sterling Journal-Advocate)

Digital media is becoming increasingly popular — last month Sterling Public Library had over 1,000 checkouts, up 216 items from January 2015. During the library's Brown Bag Lunch program on Thursday, Librarian Erica Kallsen talked about the library's many digital media offerings.

SPL is part of the Across Colorado Digital Consortium, which consists of many other libraries typically the size of SPL or smaller. "We've put a lot of resources together to expand the number of titles that are available to our patrons," Kallsen said.

Through Overdrive patrons can access e-books, audio books, streaming videos and magazines. Overdrive is available by visiting coloradodc.lib.overdrive.com, or downloading the app. To sign in you must have your library card information.

Kallsen went over all the different types of media that can be accessed, starting with e-books. Each book title provides information, a sample and the subject the book falls under. It also shows how many copies are available and how many people are on hold, "so you'll have an idea of how long you'll have to wait for it." Plus, if it's part of a series of books it will say what number in the series it is and give a link to other books in the series.

If you check a book out on accident you can hit "return title" and return it.

Users will be able to see how long they have left on their checkout. Checkouts can be 14 or 21 days, however audio books are always 14 days, movies are seven days or 48 hours after you first watched it. Items are automatically returned; there are no late fees.

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Patrons may only have five items checked out at one time and only five items on hold at a time.

When books are three days from their due date they can be renewed, but if someone else had a hold on it that person gets it first before it comes back to you. If you haven't checked out another title since then it will remember where you were in the book when you get it back.

Depending on what device you have listed in your preferences you can read e-books using Kindle Book or e-book, and just because you have a Kindle doesn't mean you need a Kindle format. Once you've checked out a book, you have to keep the format you chose, Kindle or e-book.

Books can be read without an Internet connection. After you've connected to the browser on the Internet, if you leave the browser open the book will stay open and you can read it even without a wireless or Internet connection.

Next, Kallsen went over how to use audio books, which again include information about the book and how many copies are checked out. All audio books must be downloaded and they only come in MP3 audio formats; there is no Kindle audio book format. If you have a black and white Kindle or Nook, they are not audio capable, so these books won't work on those devices, but you can listen to them on your computer in your browser.

She noted the audio books are the same format as the CD audio books the library offers.

Kallsen then went over how to borrow movies. She noted movies are only streamed; there is no downloading, so you must be connected to wireless or Internet to watch a movie. Black and white Kindles and Nooks will not be able to play the movies. Like books, each movie title gives information detailing what the movie is about.

Overdrive also offers magazines, but you must have a Barnes & Noble account to access them. If you have a smart phone you can download the app onto it or onto a computer or iPad. It cannot be downloaded onto a Kindle, because Amazon is in direct competition with Barnes & Noble and won't allow it.

You can get the newest weekly or monthly magazine right away, but past issues are not available. However, after you have checked it out using the app it's yours, it stays in your records, so you can go back and find it later.

If there is a very popular magazine that everyone's reading it may not be available. Kallsen if that is a problem let the library know, because they can try and purchase additional copies of the magazine. You can also let them know if there are e-books or audio books you would like them to purchase. Overdrive does have a link where you can recommend books the library should purchase.

She mentioned that Apple is having trouble with its latest IOS update, "so if anyone has been using this and is having problems with their Apple it was the update. They're working on it; they're trying to get some more information so it works more like you're accustomed to."

Kallsen said if you're having problems signing in make sure your library card is in good standing. You should also make sure you don't have excessively long overdues or excessive fines, over $5, because those will block your account.

She noted that e-books should take less than a minute to download and audio books usually less than five minutes, and e-books won't take up muck space on your device. Audio books will take up a little more space.

In addition to Overdrive, SPL also offers a number of other e-sources, such as music streaming, genealogy, automotive, test prep websites, etc.

At the next Brown Bag Lunch, Thursday, March 17, chef Calvin Lee will present "Quick Tips for Every Cook." Bring your favorite sack lunch to enjoy during the presentation.

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